More than Meets the Eye...

Miss Bates and Mrs. Bates from the 1996 adaption of Emma (the version I like to watch)

Emma, a movie based off of a book by Jane Austen, is my go-to chick flick movie. The basic premise of the movie is about a witty young woman named Emma who enjoys getting into other peoples' business. Throughout the story, she continually faces consequences from her matchmaking attempts (which are a whole different matter that I may talk about some other time). But, one thing that particularly stands out to me about Emma are its crazy characters. One woman in particular, Miss Bates, adds lots of humor to the story (as if there isn't enough already). She is an old maid, living alone with her mother Mrs. Bates. Her mouth runs many times faster than her brain and usually she is continually saying stupid things. To make matters worse, she laughs at her own lame jokes too. The audience sees Miss Bates as a two-dimentional character; she is simply the batty, slow type that adds comic relief to the plot line. But, towards the end of the movie, a scene takes place that changes this opinion completely (the following quotes are actually from the book, not the movie, but they are very similar)

Emma and several of her friends (including Miss Bates) are at a picnic. They are running out of things to talk about, so one of the picnickers suggests that everyone tell Emma "two things moderately clever or three very dull things indeed". Miss Bates teasingly says, "'Three things very dull indeed.' That will just do for me, you know. I shall be sure to say three dull things as soon as ever I open my mouth, shan't I?" 
Emma responds, "Ah, ma'am, but there may be a difficulty. Pardon me—but you will be limited as to number—only three at once’."
This remark suddenly shows something in Miss Bates; her entire happy-go-lucky, dull attitude changes into one of embarrassment and spellbound shock. For the rest of the picnic, she sheepishly wonders out loud if she really is as dull as Emma says she is, and her entire afternoon is essentially ruined.

Isn't it funny that this seemingly two-dimensional character took that blow so drastically? Watching that scene and its painful outcomes made me realize something important: there is more to every person than what meets the eye.

We all have those people in our lives who seem to have no depth to them. For example, while I was working at a kids day camp this summer, I came into contact with this one crazy girl in my cabin.  She was loud, bold, and comfortable with everyone. In fact, this girl even gave nicknames to several of the counselors. She was also the one who liked to stick her tongue out at me whenever my will clashed with hers and the one who complained rather frequently. It seemed as though she was just a crazy, slightly annoying kid, nothing more. 
Until the last day of camp came around. We were doing various relay races that day and eventually we reached an egg-and-spoon race. The girl dropped her egg during the race and everyone, in their competitive spirits, naturally started yelling at her, telling her to "go get another egg" and "turn around", stuff like that. Only about a minute after the race had ended, I found the girl crying her heart out. I suddenly came to a realization; everything that this little girl had done this week, from pushing to get her way to giving out obscure nicknames was for a single reason: to cover up HUGE insecurities. 
Beyond the loud and often obnoxious little girl was a human being with looming insecurities and doubts of whether or not she was appreciated. 

We need to realize that there is so much more to everyone than what we see. From the annoying jerk to the painfully shy wallflower to the flamboyant attention-seeker, there is so much more to every person than meets the eye. 

As Christians, we are definitely called to look beyond initial judgments of the people around us. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

If you listen to any CCM music at all, you probably know the song "Give Me Your Eyes" by Brandon Heath. This song actually depicts this concept very well by challenging us to see beyond the outward appearances of the people around us. Even if you could sing the song in your sleep, reread these lyrics, thinking about the meaning behind them.

"Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see."

Let's start looking beyond ourselves into the lives of others. I don't mean to be nosy and probing. I mean to start truly caring for people, no matter what type of outward appearance they seem to have. Start praying and encouraging EVERYONE around you, even when it seems like your efforts could never penetrate their initial personality. You might just be able to have an impact on someone who needed support, love, or good influence in their life, or you might just meet an awesome friend :) 
As Shrek said, ogres (and people) are like onions, they have LAYERS...